Method of dispersing fluids.



N0. 705,69l. Patented July 29, I902.

' W. J. MORTON.

METHOD OF DISPERSING FLUIDS.

(Application filed Feb. 20, 1900.)

(No Model.)

Inventor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JAMES MORTON, OF NEW YORK N. Y.

METHOD OF DISPERSING FLUIDS.

: SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 705,691, dated July29, 1902.

Application filed February 20, 1900.

To all whom it Duty concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM JAMES Mon- TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the borough'of Manhattan, city of New York, State ofNew York, have iuven ted a certain new and useful Method of DispersingFluids, of which the following is a description.

My invention in its broad scope relates to the electrical method ofdispersing fluids, whereby volatile fluids are separated from theircombination or association with relatively non-volatile or fixedsubstances in composite fluids composed thereof, resulting also in theevaporation of the volatile fluids and a state of condensation orsolidification of the relatively non-volatile or fixed substances,whereby fiber may be artificially produced. Broadly speaking, theprocess is practiced by delivering the composite fluid in an attenuatedform into an electrically-polarized atmospheric field produced by theconvective passage through an atmospheric medium of an electric currentof high tension. If a quantity of a composite fluid to be thuselectrically dispersed and separated be delivered in a fine stream orstreams or finely-divided state into a polarized atmospheric field orpath of a convective discharge between the polar terminals of an activesource of electricity of high tension, a separation of the volatilecomponent from the fixed component occurs and contemporaneously thefixed component is broken up or disrupted, the volatile component isevaporated, and simultaneously the fixed component is condensed orsolidified. When a viscous solution of a tenacious fixed substancecapable of setting .or hardening while in a filamentous state isdelivered in the manner above mentioned to the convective discharge, thevolatile component is separated from the fixed component, and coincidenttherewith the rapidly-condensing fixed component is broken up ordisrupted into filaments by the action of the convective discharge,which are rapidly dried and solidified in a fibrous condition adapted tobe used for textile or other purposes, according to the nature of thefixed component. It is preferable when employing heavy viscous compositefluids that the fluid upon which the process is to be practiced shouldbeprojected or delivered into the path or field of the convectivedischarge in an attenuated or finely-divided form. If the compositefluid is viscous and its non-volatile component is capable of setting orhardening upon being deprived of its solvent, such as collodion, and theelectrical tension is properly graduated to the delivery of the fluid,then fine long filaments are produced by the electrical disruption ofthe fluid after delivery into the convective field, and the filaments ofpyroxylin will dry or set very quickly on account of the quickseparation or evaporation of the volatile component, and the electricaldispersion of these solutions usually produces multiple threads orfibers of the fixed component, and these threads or fibers set or hardenand dry with great rapidity. If the stream of the fluid discharged intothe electrical field is continuous, the process of disruption of thefluid is also continuous, provided the electrical convective dischargeis continuous, and hence by providing a continuous delivery of fluidinto the path of a continuons electrical convective discharge theoperation of the production of these fibers is con tinuous and thefibers may be collected mechanicallyas, for instance, by reeling-as fastas they are produced. For the production of a field of convectivedischarge I employ any suitable source of high-tension or staticelectricity, such as a Holtz static machine, in-

duction-coils of large size, or the Tesla, Thomson, and other machinesnow'well known for producing currents at enormously-high voltage. Manydifierent varieties of composite fluids the fixed component of which issufiiciently tenacious and adhesive for the purpose possess the propertyof being converted into fiber under the elfect of high-potentialelectrical discharges. with which I have successfully operated for themaking of'fiber in this way are liquid glue, collodion, so-calledflexible collodion, (ordinary collodion to which has been added fiveAmong the materialsper cent. of Canada turpentine and three per cent. ofcaster-0H,) and a solution of pure rubber and sulfuric ether. Othermaterials may of course be used for the purpose.

In order that specific instances of the effective carrying out of themanufacture of artificial fiber based upon my discovery may beunderstood by those skilled in the art, I will describe several forms ofapparatus which can be used for the purpose, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and inwhich Figure i represents diagrammatically the prime conductors of asuitable source of highpotential current, such as an lnfluence-machine,showing a flexible support depending from the negative conductor andonto which fiber in a cobweb-like mass will be formed from materialpassing drop by drop or in a fine stream outof a containing vessel; Fig.2, a similar view illustrating a modification consisting in conducting abranch from the positive conductor directly into the material from whichthe fiber is to be produced, whereby the flow of the same from thevessel will be facilitated, as in the well-known electrical fountain;Fig. 3, a similar view illustrating the formation of a single thread offiber 'by producing the discharge from the material of which the fiberis to be formed directly to the negative conductor, the material in thiscase being caused to flow through a capillary tube; and Fig. 4:, a viewcorresponding to Fig. 3, With the exception that the thread formed bythe discharge is drawn to and wound upon a suitable reel, whereby acontinuous thread will be produced.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by thesame numerals of reference.

1 represents the positive prime conductor, and 2 the negative primeconductor, of a suit able source of high-potential discharge, preferablyan infiuencemachine of the Holtz type.

3 represents a suitable receptacle for containing the material which isto be converted into fiber, said receptacle being, preferably, a glassvessel suspended from an insulated support. In Figs. 1 and 2 the tubularbottom 4 of the receptacle is sufficiently large to permit a flow bygravityof the material through the same, said tubular bottom beingprovided with a stop-cock 5, by which the flow can regulated and thematerial permitted to flow out in the form of drops or in a very finestream. In Figs. 3 and 4 the bottom 6 of the receptacle is made in theform of a capillary tube, which may, if desired, (see Fig. 3) beprovided with a similar stopcock 5. When the lower end of the receptacleis made in the form of a capillary tube, a stop-cock is ordinarily notrequired, since the material will not flow out from such a tube exceptunder the influence of the electric discharge, as in the ordinaryelectrical fountain.

In Fig. 1 I illustrate a chain 7, depending from the negative conductorfor accumulating the fiber, and in Fig. 4 I illustrate a reel 8, uponwhich a single thread can be wound in any suitable way.

Referring first to the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the operationwill be as follows: The receptacle 3 is supplied with a suitable viscidor tenacious fluid-like materialfor instance, liquid glue-and it is sosupported with respect to the positive prime conductor that the materialmay flow out through a the end 4 thereof in the form of drops, as shown,or as ,a very fine stream very close to the positive conductor or inactual contact therewith. 7

two conductors are arranged, preferably, to result in the formationbetween them of the well-known brush discharge. If the stop-cock 5 isnow opened to permit the material to flow past or in contact with thepositive prime conductor 1, the influence of the discharge causes thematerial to be instantly converted into fiber, which accumulates uponthe negative prime conductor and upon the flexible support 7 in the formof a beautiful cobweb-like mass. These fibers ordinarily retain theiridentity, and in the case of material requiring subsequent drying theymay be dried with out difficulty. In the case of collodion and materialsformed by the solution, of a solid in a volatile fluid the'effect of thedischarge is to volatilize the solvent, and the resulting fibers whenformed are sufficiently dry for use. In the case of extremely-viscidmate. rials, like rubber dissolved in sulfuric ether, the fibers afterthey are formed if allowed to come into contact or unless properlytreated quickly lose their identity and merge into a sponge-like mass,which may be put to any industrial use.

With the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 the operation is the same except thata part of the current is permitted to electrify the fluid, with theresult that it passes more rapidly out of the containing vessel; but theformation of the material into fiber is exactly the same as with theapparatus shown in Fig. 1.

With the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 the negative conductor is so arrangedwith respect to the bore of the capillary tube 6 that a silent dischargewill take place between them. This discharge causes the material to flowthrough the capillary tube, as in the well-known electrical fountain,and the material after leaving the tube will be formed into a singlecontinuous thread,which tends to accumulate on the negative primeconductor. This thread may be woundup on a reel 8, as shown in Fig. 4,and in this way fibers of any desired length can be produced.

I find in practice that the establishment of the best brush dischargefor the purpose is effected between small balls or roughened brass ballsconstituting the positive and negative conductors, respectively,although such discharge may be effected bet-ween points, as explained,or between the material to be fibrated and the negative conductor. If itis found in operation that the fiber tends to bridge the space betweenthe positive and negative conductors to short-circuit the discharge, thefiber should be broken ofi from time to time at the positive conductor;but this result does not ordinarily take place and seems to be only anaccidental occurrence in the process.

Although I have referred herein particu- The machine being started, the

larly to the formation of fiber on the negative conductor bytransporting a fiber-producing substance from the positive primeconductor or from the immediate vicinity thereof, as occurs in theobserved phenomena of cataphoresis, yet it will be understood that thetransportation or carrying of the material and its formation into fibermay take place from the negative to the positive prime conductor, as inthe phenomena of anaphoresis, when the fiber-producing materials, ifused, are so transported. (See Traz't Theom'que et Prat'iqeDEl'ectroch'imz'e, by Tommasi, Paris, 1890, page 38, et seq.)

I am not able to state positively the reason for the op tions aboveexplained. It is well known that fluids may be transported by electricdischarges from the positive to the negative 'pole, or vice versa,according to the nature of the fluid. It is also well known, as in thecase of the electrical fountain, that the electrification vof a fluidcauses it to pass readily through a capillary tube through which itwould not ordinarily flow, and this fact apparently explains theoperation which takes place with apparatus of the type shown in Figs. 3and 4. Furthermore it is known that the efiect of a convective brushorsilent discharge upon drops of liquid .is to cause them to coalesce,which fact may account for the conversion of the materials intofiber-like formation. Moreover, it was observed by Beccaria that anelectrified fluid evaporated more rapidly than one which was not e1ectrifled, and I attribute to this phenomena the fact that in the productionof fiber the drying and hardening thereof, particularly when a volatilesolvent is used, takes place almost instantly. Furthermore, it ispossible that the production of ozone in the discharge may operate toozonize the material in process of formation or to ozonize the fiber theinstant of its production, and, finally, since it has been observed thatthreads or fibers which are similarly electrified tend to repel eachother it has seemed to me very probable that it is this fact whichenables the individual fibers to retain their identity without againcoalescing during the instant of time in which their permanent formationtakes place.

, I am unable to say whether the explanation which I have given is thecorrect one or not; but such an explanation appears to accord with thephenomena heretofore observed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The process of separating from composite fluids the volatilecomponent and breaking up the fixed component thereof, which consists indelivering the fluid into the path of a convective discharge ofhigh-tension electricity, disrupting the composite fluid, therebyevaporating the volatile component and simultaneously solidifying thefixed component, substantially as described.

2. The process of separating from composite tension electricity,breaking up or disrupting the viscous composite fluid thereby,evaporating. the volatile component, and simultaneously solidifying thefixed component into multiple fibers, substantially as described.

4. The process of separating the volatile liquid component from thecomponent of fixed substances in composite fluids composed thereof,which consists in conducting a supply of composite fluid to a field ofconvective action of high-tension electricity, causing a delivery of thesaid composite fluid in a free and attenuated form therein, thendisrupting the composite fluid thereby, and collecting the separatedproduct of the fixed substances resulting from the disruptive action ofthe convective field upon the composite fluid, substantially asdescribed.

5. The process of separating the volatile liquid component from thecomponent of fixed substances in composite fluids composed thereof,which consists in conducting a supply of the composite fluid to a fieldof con vective action of high-tension electricity,-

causing a delivery of the said composite fluid in a free and attenuatedform therein, then disrupting the composite fluid thereby, simul-'taneously volatilizing the volatile liquid com= ponent and setting thecomponent of fixed substances while in a filamentous condition, andcollecting the separated filamentous products of the fixed substances,substantially as described.

6. The process of separating the volatile liquid component from thecomponent of fixed substances in composite fluids composed thereof,which consists in conducting a supply of the composite fluid to a fieldof convective action of high-tension electricity, causing a delivery ofthe said fluid in a free and attenuated form therein, then disruptingthe composite fluid thereby, simultaneously volatilizing the volatileliquid component and fibering the component of fixed substances intomultiple fibers and causing the same to set while still in a fibrouscondition, and collecting the fibrous products of the fixed substances,substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day of January, 1900.

WILLIAM JAMES MORTON. Witnesses:

E. B. TREAT, M. REEvEs.

